BEREA, Ohio – Much was made of the Browns’ decision to draft a 28-year-old quarterback a season ago. But if Brandon Weeden fails to produce this fall, his age likely becomes inconsequential to Cleveland fans.

“If Brandon doesn’t do it this year, we’re going to be starting over again at quarterback,” former Browns coach Sam Rutigliano said.

Not long ago, few could imagine giving up on a first-round quarterback after just two seasons. Nowadays, few would refute Rutligliano’s assessment. Not just in Cleveland, but throughout the NFL.

As the position grows in importance and more college quarterbacks arrive in the league ready to play the pressure on incumbents has never been higher.

Blaine Gabbert, the No. 10 overall pick in 2011, is under fire in Jacksonville. Christian Ponder, the No. 12 pick in the same draft class, could be done in Minnesota if he doesn’t elevate his game a season after the Vikings reached the playoffs.

View full sizeBrandon Weeden saw large portions of Sunday's game from the turf of FirstEnergy Stadium, as the Browns struggled to slow Miami's pass rush.John Kuntz, The Plain Dealer

In the NFL, hurry-up offense no longer just relates to tempo -- it’s a state of mind. Produce or step aside.

• Albert Breer of the NFL Network noted of the 24 quarterbacks selected in 2009 and 2010 only five are currently with their original teams.

• Peter King of Sports Illustrated observed of the 21 QBs drafted in the first and second rounds between 2006-10, there are six solid starters and eight out of football.

“We are just one game into the season and there’s already four guys where we’re saying, ‘You have to make a change here,”’ said former Baltimore Ravens coach Brian Billick, an analyst for NFL Network. “It’s a tough league. It’s unreasonable after only one game but welcome to the NFL today.”

Billick captured a Super Bowl title in 2000 with Trent Dilfer under center. But in a passer’s league, one incorporating more elements of spread offense from the college ranks, caretaker quarterbacks are going the way of corded telephones. Everyone is looking for a dynamic signal caller – and with rookie salary caps in place since 2011 – teams are no longer being financially penalized for missing on a JaMarcus Russell.

“We are just in a new day and age now,” Browns backup quarterback Jason Campbell said. “There’s not a lot of patience. Everyone wants to see progress now.”

Start ‘em young

Ten years ago, the top pick in the NFL draft didn’t play a down in his rookie season. The Bengals parked quarterback Carson Palmer on the sidelines and made him watch Jon Kitna lead them to an 8-8 record.

While the strategy seemed extreme, it illustrated how teams allowed quarterbacks to develop. It wasn’t unusual to let rookies wear headsets or give quarterbacks three or four years to grow into the game even as the losses piled up.

In today’s league would a franchise give a third season to a starting quarterback with a 7-19 record and a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 20/36? Those were the numbers of Hall-of-Famer Troy Aikman during his first two years in Dallas.

“It would have been interesting to see if Troy would have gotten the same patience today,” Billick said. “That’s where it comes back to the coach. ‘Do I really believe in this guy?’ And, that’s tough on the quarterback because he may have all the elements he needs to be successful but it just doesn’t add up.”

Billick believes quarterbacks learn nothing by sitting and watching. Because of the proliferation of quarterback camps and the increased emphasis on passing in high school and college, prospects reach the league more game-ready. The top two picks in this year's draft, Buffalo's E.J. Manuel (No. 16 overall) and the New York Jets' Geno Smith (No. 39) are both starting.

View full size Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh sees younger quarterbacks coming into the league ready to play. He started Joe Flacco as a rookie in 2008. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)AP When John Harbaugh replaced Billick in Baltimore five years ago one of his first key decisions was to install rookie Joe Flacco as his starting quarterback.

When John Harbaugh replaced Billick in Baltimore five years ago one of his first decisions was to install rookie Joe Flacco as his starting quarterback.

Flacco benefited from his surrounding talent and led the Ravens to the postseason in 2008. He’s never missed the playoffs and last season was the Super Bowl MVP.

“Guys do play sooner,” Harbaugh said. “Even in Philadelphia when Donovan came in (1999) he didn’t play right away and certainly could have. It seems guys are getting pushed out there in the opening week more than ever. Does that shorten or lengthen their career life span? Joe was put out there the very first game and has done well with that.”

Billick said the success of Flacco, Matt Ryan Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III and Russell Wilson are raising the standard for players like Weeden. Other quarterbacks are coming out of college and succeeding immediately.

“At the end of the day, you’re either the guy or you’re not,” he said.

Billick believes the advent of the rookie salary cap in 2011 inflated the value of some quarterbacks, including Weeden.

“You saw teams arbitrarily pulling guys into the first round because it didn’t cost as much . . . ” Billick said. “It’s not what it used to be and you’re not having to pay the economic package if you are wrong.”

Will the rookie cap also prove to be an incentive to cut ties quicker with struggling first rounders?

Revolving door

Two weeks ago, ESPN analyst Jon Gruden was asked if 2013 represents a “make a break” season for Weeden.

In stating a case for the Oklahoma State product, Gruden said: “(The Browns) have changed quarterbacks more than any team in NFL history the last 20 years since they have been back in Cleveland.”

A bit of an exaggeration, but his point is valid. The Browns have used 11 different opening-day starters since 1999. It’s the most in that span, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, with Washington and Arizona employing nine each.

Weeden probably has 15 weeks to prove to a management team that didn’t draft him the Browns don’t require another quarterback.

Billick and Rutigliano agree the position is such a difficult one to evaluate because of the surrounding talent. Rutigliano calls drafting a quarterback a “crapshoot.”

Neither former coach believes the Browns have enough playmakers around Weeden. Rutliglano said they need to commit to the run to make third downs more manageable for him. But that doesn’t absolve Weeden’s performance, the coaches said.

“After having a full season and a training camp and a new staff, he still seems to see the defense like it’s Time Square on New Year’s Eve,” Rutigliano said. “The game doesn’t look like it’s slowing down for him.’’

If it doesn’t soon Browns fans need not worry about how many more seasons they can wring from the right arm of their soon-to-be 30-year-old quarterback.

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